Columbus Pre-School
Admissions
Our admissions process is an invitation for families to get to know Columbus Pre-School through the lens of a student, rather than through a series of formal interviews. We welcome parents and children to visit classrooms to familiarize themselves with the spaces and faces of Columbus Pre-School.
Admissions Process
Get to Know Our School
We know how busy toddler parents are, so our admissions process respects that. We make our school visits approachable and manageable, but always make sure that parents have plenty of opportunities to engage.
Once you apply, you’ll sign up for our simple two-step process, a parent visit and a child visit.
To check out the school before applying, we host evening Parent Open Houses where parents can meander through the school, check out the artwork and project documentation on the classroom walls, and speak with the admissions team and current Columbus parents.
Step 1
parent visits (Tours & Open Houses)
We begin accepting applications in September of the year before your child would enter school.
The formal application process begins with a parent tour during school hours, where you’ll meet with our director, Julie, to learn about our philosophy, curricula, separation at the start of preschool, the transition to kindergarten, and everything in between. You’ll tour the classrooms to see the teachers and students in action.
We also offer optional Parent Open Houses in the evenings for you to tour the facilities and chat with members of the administration. You may sign up for open houses before or after submitting your application.
Sign up here: Evening Open Houses
Step 2
child visit
Next, your child will visit for a small playgroup. This is a chance for you to more intimately interact with our educators. The visit will last about 20-30 minutes and will take place in our classrooms with our preschool teachers and fellow prospective students. You’ll see first-hand how our teachers engage with our students, helping them ease into a new space, and encouraging them to explore the many materials and learning opportunities available to students here at Columbus.
That’s It!
That’s the whole formal process!
We know parents have very different approaches to preschool admissions. Some parents want to see every school in Manhattan before selecting, some have a slew of friends already at a certain preschool and you trust their opinion that it’s the right place for them too, and some parents instantly fall in love with a school after one visit. For these reasons and all the others that affect parents’ preschool decisions, we offer flexibility in admissions timing options, ranging from as early as December for parents eager to finish the process to the spring season for those who need more time before committing.
We will also host events throughout the season for those who want more information or to engage more with the school, including refresher tours, parent panels with current and former Columbus parents, community events, and parent cocktail evenings.
School Year | 2025-2026
Tuition
| Program (by Age) | Days/Times | Tuition |
| 2s | Tues/Thurs, 8:30-11:30 or 8:45-11:45 | $15,600 |
| 2s/3s & 3s | Mon/Wed/Fri, 8:30-11:30 or 8:45-11:45 | $24,960 |
| 2s/3s & 3s | Mon-Fri, 8:30-12:00 or 8:45-12:15 | $31,200 |
| 2s/3s | Mon-Thurs, 1:00-4:00 | $15,600 |
| Older 3s/4s/5s | Mon-Fri, 8:30-2:30 or 8:45-2:45 | $38,740 |
| EXTENDED DAY AVAILABLE FOR ALL PROGRAMS* |
Mon-Fri until 2:30 Mon-Thurs until 5:30, Fri until 4:00 |
*Pricing available upon request |
Mid-year Entry: January 2026-June 2026 |
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| Program (by Age) | Days/Times | Tuition |
| 2s | Tues/Thurs, 8:30-11:30 or 8:45-11:45 | $8,580 |
| 2s/3s & 3s | Mon/Wed/Fri, 8:30-11:30 or 8:45-11:45 | $13,728 |
| 2s | Mon-Fri, 8:45-12:15 | $17,160 |
| 2s/3s | Mon-Thurs, 1:00-4:00 | $8,580 |
| Older 3s/4s/5s | Mon-Fri, 8:30-2:30 or 8:45-2:45 | $21,307 |
Admissions Application
$90.00
I am excited to introduce you to the many wonderful things about Columbus Pre-School that made me want to join as director 12 years ago.